Film processing reagent container



Dec. 23, 1969 N A. CRONIG ETAL 3,485,348

FILM PROCESSING REAGENT CONTAINER Filed Dec. 18, 1967 /8 2e aa a3 2a Izwezzinm:

20m Gfioaatjg,

Joseph V'Mallavfiiy,

Fflazacazli' waiver,

'4 paaapl'm nited States Patent 0 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A sealed shallow vessel having a movable bottom wall adapted for actuation to' transfer a contained body of viscous processing reagent through a vessel opening created by removal at a detachable cover. The body of reagent can be transferred directly to the surface of a film frame being processed.

This invention relates generally to a container for photographic film processing reagent and, more particularly, relates to such 0 container especially suited for the processing of aperture card mounted'microfilm.

The now Well known microfilm aperture card is a data processing card having an aperture in which a frame of microfilm is mounted. Typically, the mounted microfilm contains a graphic image of a previously photographed visual presentation and the card contains a key for locating the recorded information by, for example, electronic data processing computers The ability of microfilm aperture cards to both handle total graphic information and to be quantitatively indexed has resulted in extremely efiicient and extensive information management systems.

However, despite the many desirable features exhibited by aperture card systems, they have not come into extensive use because of other disadvantageous characteristics. Primary drawbacks have been the great complexity and relatively high cost of the presently available aperture card processing systems. These factors have limited the practical utility of the microfilm aperture card to extremely high volume information management systems. The same factors have limited the system principally to applications wherein the material being photographed can be brought directly to the aperture card camera and processing equipment. This latter requirement negates the potential usefulness of aperture cards for those applications wherein-one desires a photographic record of a visual presentation which, as a practical matter, cannot be moved to a remote location and also desires to know immediately that a suitable photographic image of the presentation has been obtained. Such applications are multitude and include, for example, those instances in which one desires a photographic record of industrial equipment, prototype devices, blackboard presentations, etc.

Copending U.S. applications of Alvin Cronig et al., Ser. No. 613,603, filed Feb. 2, 1967, and of Gilbert Robin et al., Ser. No. 645,384, filed June 12, 1967, disclose and claim aperture card mounted microfilm processor units which alleviate many of the above problems. A specific problem, unique to the processing of aperture card mounted film, is solved by the provision of novel apparatus for applying piocessing reagent to the card retained microfilm.

The object of this invention is to provide a photographic film processing reagent container for use with the processor units disclosed in the above noted U.S. applications.

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One feature of this invention is the provision of a container including a vessel portion filled with a body of viscous processing reagent adapted to develop the latent image retained by photographic film, and a cover portion hermetically sealed to the vessel portion and adapted for removal to expose the body of processing reagent and permit application thereof to the surface of exposed photographic film. The use of the described container greatly simplifies the necessary processing step wherein processing reagent is applied to the film surface.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a processing reagent container of the above featured type wherein the vessel portion includes a movable wall portion adapted to transport the contained body of viscous processing reagent into contact with the surface of the photographic film. The movable wall portion facilitates the required transfer of processing reagent from the container to the exposed film surface.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a processing reagent container of the above featured types wherein the vessel possesses an opening covered by the cover portion and defined by dimensions substantially greater than the vessels depth. This arrangement permits direct transfer of a viscous processing reagent body having dimensions corresponding to a film frame being processed.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a processing reagent container of the above featured types wherein the vessels bottom wall includes the movable wall portion and is disposed opposite the covered opening. After removal of the cover portion, induced movement of the movable wall portion transports the entire body of viscous processing reagent through the vessels opening into contact with an adjacent film surface.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a processing reagent container of the above featured types wherein the vessel includes side wall portions joined to the movable wall portion by a flexiblejoint. The flexible joint permits relative movement between movable wall portion and side wall portions thereby facilitating the transfer of the contained processing reagent.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a processing reagent container of the above featured types wherein the flexible joint is formed by a groove in the marginal edge of the vessels bottom wall. In this simple arrangement, the additional length in the vessels bottom wall provided by the groove allows the desired relative movement of the movable wall portion.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a processing reagent container of the above'featured types wherein the vessel includes a peripheral flange surrounding the vessels opening and sealed to the cover portion. In addition to providing a support for the cover portion, the peripheral flange serves as an abutment surface for contacting the film surface during transfer of the contained processing reagent.

Another feature of this invention is the provision .of a processing reagent container of the above featured type wherein thevessel is formed entirely from a relatively flexible material. This feature permits attainment of the above described features with an extremely simple and inexpensive container embodiment.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a processing reagent container of the above featured types wherein the. dimensions of the vessels opening. approximate those of microfilm frames conventionally mounted in aperture cards. This container embodiment is specifically and uniquely suited for use in processing aperture card retained microfilm.

These and other features and objects of the present invention will become more apparent upon a perusal of the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a processing reagent container according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the container shown in FIG. 1 taken along lines 22;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view .of the container shown in FIG. 1 with the cover portion partially removed;

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the container with its cover completely removed and in a preactivated position adjacent an exposed photographic film frame; and a FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the container shown in FIG. 4 after actuation of the movable wall portion and transfer of the contained processing reagent.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown the processing reagent container 11 including the vessel portion 12 and cover portion 13. The vessel portion 12 includes the side wall portions 14 and the bottom wall 15. Filling the vessel portion 12 is the viscous processing reagent 16. The processing reagent 16 may comprise any conventional film processing solution to which a compatible thickening substance has been added. Suitable thickeners include, for example, natural and synthetic polysaccharides, enzymes, starches, thermoplastic and thermosetting acrylic resins, etc.

Formed in the marginal edge of the bottom wall is the groove 17 which surrounds the movable bottom wall portion 18. The groove 17 provides additional length in the bottom wall 15 so as to permit relative movement of the movable wall portion 18 with respect to the end walls 14. Thus, the groove 17 functions as a flexible joint between the end walls 14 and the movable bottom wall portion 18.

Extending outwardly from the side walls 14 and surrounding the opening 21 in the vessel 12 is the peripheral flange 22. Hermetically sealed to the upper surface of the peripheral flange 22 is the marginal edge of the container cover 13. A terminal portion 23 of the container cover 13 extends slightly beyond one edge of the peripheral flange 22.

To use the processing reagent container 11, the cover terminal portion 23 is gripped and pulled to detach the container cover 13 from the peripheral flange 22 as shown in FIG. 3. This operation exposes the vessel opening 21 and the body of viscous reagent 16. The vessel 12 is then positioned within a suitable film processor unit (not shown) adjacent an aperture card 28 mounted on supports 27. The opening 21 is directly aligned with the card aperture 29 and the surface of an exposed frame of photographic film mounted therein. The specific structural details of the processor unit itself do not form a part of the present invention and are, therefore, not described in detail. However, examples of processor units suitable for use with the container 12 are shown and described in the above noted U.S. applications Ser. No. 613,603, filed Feb. 2, 1967 and Ser. No. 645,384, filed June 12, 1967, both of which are assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

Subsequent to the positioning of the vessel 12 and exposed film frame 25, the transfer piston 26 having a head area coextensive with the movable wall portion 18 is brought into contact therewith as shown in FIG. 4. After engagement of the peripheral flange 22 and the rigidly supported aperture card 28, relative movement between these elements is prevented despite further upward movement of the transfer piston 26. However, because of the flexible joint provided by the groove 17, the movable wall portion 18 is not restrained and moves with the transfer piston 26 toward the film frame 25 as shown in FIG. 5. This movement of the wall portion 18 transfers the body of viscous reagent 16 through the vessels opening 21 and into contact with the adjacent surface of the exposed film 25. e e

The even pressure exerted by the piston 26 insures thorough application of processing reagent over the entire film frame surface and uniform development of the image retained thereon. After a period of time necessary for complete film development the transfer piston 26 is retracted and both the vessel 12 and the aperture card 28 are removed from the processing unit (not shown). Subsequent processing operations can be achieved similarly by inserting additional processing reagent filled vessels.

The dimensions of the vessel opening 21, as shown in FIG. 1, are substantially greater than its depth shown somewhat exaggerated in FIG. 2. The relatively shallow vessel 12 possesses a reagent depth capacity which is suflicient for complete film development but does not promote the wastefulness and sloppiness associated with excessive reagent application. Conversely, the relatively large opening 21 permits direct transfer of a viscous body 16 having a surface area sufliciently large to accommodate the entire film surface being processed. Thus, lateral distribution of the processing reagent is not required. This is particularly significant in the processing of aperture card mounted microfilm since the card surrounding the film should be maintained relatively free of the applied reagent.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the vessel 12 is formed of an easily molded plastic substance such as polypropylene thereby providing an extremely inexpensive container which exhibits the desired flexibility characteristics. Such a container having a depth of approximately A and a 1% by 1% inch opening 21 is particularly well suited for the preferred aperture card mounted microfilm processing application. Exemplary descriptions of the well known microfilm aperture card appear in US. Patents Nos. 2,512,106 and 2,587,022.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, although especially suited for aperture card mounted film processing, it will be obvious that the described invention could be used for processing other conventional types of photographic film. Also, the invention could be used independently of special film processor units as, for example, in darkroom applications entatiling the manual application of processing reagent to exposed film. It is, therefore, to be understood that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A processing reagent container for use in a photographic film processor comprising:

(a) a substantially flat vessel;

(b) a body of viscous reagent in said vessel for deiwirleloping latent images retained by photographic (c) said vessel having an open top portion to fit adjacent the film being processed;

(d) a cover removably positioned over said open portion to provide a seal for said vessel and to expose said processing reagent upon removal of said cover to permit application of said reagent to the surface of exposed photographic film and;

(e) said vessel having movable bottom wall means for transporting the body of viscous reagent through said open top portion and out of said vessel to bring the viscous processing reagent into intimate contact I with the film being processed.

2. A processing reagent container according to claim 1 wherein said vessel comprises side wall portions joined to said bottom wall means by a flexible joint which permits relative movement therebetween.

'3. A processing reagent container according to claim 1 wherein said vessel open top portion is defined by dimensions which approximate the planar surface dimensions of conventional microfilm frames.

(References on following page) References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,054,503 9/1962 Hartman et a1. 3,069,273 12/1962 Wayne. 3,152,515 10/ 1964 Land.

6 3,158,491 11/1964 Farrell et a1.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,159,055 2/1958 France.

5 WILLIAM T. DIXSON, 111., Primary Examiner 

